Means and method of constructing walls



May 8, 1945. v. A. HAMILTON 7 2,375,643

MEANS AND METHOD OF GONSTRUCTING WALLS Filed July 20, 1942 2Sheets-Sheet 1 v m-A.H4M//.Ta-

" INVENTQR.

" y 1945- v. A.HAM[LTON 3 5 MEANS AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING WALLS FiledJuly'20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/A/V Amu l uow f 6 INVENTOR. BY .t e

Patented May 8, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r 2,375,648 I'MEANS ANDMETHOD OF CONSTRUCTING i i L ALLS van A. Hamilton, Palestine; Tel.Application July- 20, 1942, Serial No 451,531

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction of concrete walls. Moreparticularly theinvention comprehends the production of a wall ofcementi-j tious material by the'utilization of an improved form wherebythere is cast a series of superposed beams to produce a monolithicwallstructure;

The primary object of the invention is to provide method and apparatusfor constructing concrete walls in an inexpensive and expeditiousmannerfl Anotherobject is to provide means and method whereby rapid andaccurate alinement of successively cast portions of awall will beeffected.

A further object is to provide a method of construction in whichtheprecast portion of awall serves asan alining support for the additionofa successiveportion.

A still further object is to provide aform which includes a transversespacer proximate its upper edge to serve the dual function of providingthe proper wall thickness and providing a transverse surface groove inthe cementitious material cast therein, such groove serving to lockspacer lugs for subsequent positioning of the form thereabove.

Still another object of the invention is to cast a concrete wall insuperposed sections with successive sections thereof in accuratealinement.

Another object is. to cast a concrete wall in superposed sections withdesired openings blocked out during the casting operations.

The foregoing objects together with additional objects will be morefully-apparent from the following description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings in-which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view in elevation through a cast beamportion of a wall showing the form positioned to receive a quantity ofmaterial to form the successive beam portion of a wall; i i i Fig. 2 isa sectional plan view through the form used in practicing the inventionand showing the relative position of parts preliminary to the pouring ofconcrete therein;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 after cement has beenpoured within the form, and also shows the manner of providingtransverse grooves on a starter wall or grade beam;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one form of lug used in accordance withthe invention;

- Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a corner construction of the form usedin the practice of the inven- I tion;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through a wall showing the manner ofdisposing of the. ties embedded in the cast concrete.

V Whiletheword, fconcrete. is used in the present disclosure of theinvention, it isto be understood that the invention pertains to theproduction ofQwall structures from any cementitious material, and alsocoinprehends the utilization of reinforcement members,such as steel barsor rods, to enhance strength of the resultant monolithic structure.

In the practice of the invention it will be assumed that a starter wallor grade beam 1 (Fig; 3), is first cast, a filler strip 2 being utilizedin connection with the cross ties 3 of the form used in casting suchstarter wall. The filler strips 2 serve the dual function of determiningthe width of theform and also provide transverse grooves 4 in the uppersurface of the starter wall to serve the purpose that will presentlyappear. The spacerblock Zris shown as trapezoidalin cross section, suchconfiguration vbeing used since the block may more readily beremovedafter the cast concrete has set thereabout. It is to be underuse ofspacer blocks having this cross sectional configuration since otherconfigurations may be used, the principal requisite being that thespacer blocks be removable so that a transverse groove is provided inthe upper surface of the concrete cast within the form in which thespacer block is used. i

The wall that is constructed upon the starter wall l is cast in a seriesof horizontally extending superposed beams, The following decriptionapplies to the casting of any of these beam porl tions which arecastinsuccession, each portion being preferablyconstructed upon thepreceding portionas soon as practicable after the cementitious materialof the preceding portion has set... In. orderto cast a .beam portionupon the starter wall or upon a precast beam portion, a plurality oflugs 1, preferably of wood, are provided. to servein accurately locatingthe side members l5 and I6 of the form relative to the precast portionof the wall. Each of these lugs 1 comprises a body portion 8 and aninner pro J'ection or pilot 9which is of the same configura tion andwhich extends into the end of one of the grooves 4 as the face It on thebody 8 engages the outer surface of the precast portion of the wall. Thebody portion 8 is preferably, though not necessarily, of the samethickness as theform members I5 andlfi'.

The mg 1 also includes a rectangular leg ll which extends outwardly fromthe body in a direction opposite from the direction of the pro-,jectionfl.

L The entire lug groove [2 in its bers. The tie then passes through thetransverse groove 4 and its opposite end is engaged by the hook IS onthe bolt so that the nut and washer 2| at the outer end thereof engagethe outer surface of the lug II). .By means-of this constructiontightening" of the bolt will cause the lugs l to tightly engage thesides of the precast portion of the wall. The projection or pilot 9 isinstrumental in efiecting accurate location of the lugs After the lugshave been positioned along a precast portion of the' wall to which anaddiconcrete. It is also to be understood that spacers 2 at the upperedge of the form are instrumental in providing transverse grooves foruse in the casting of a superposed beam portion upon and [Band thenutand'washe'r' assembly 2| may be removed whereby the lugs- 1 and thekeepers 25, as well as the side members 15 and 16, can be removed forassembly at a new location. The

tional beam portion is to be added and-with the upper surfaces of suchlugs proximate or slightly below the upper surface of the precastportion,

the members l5 and I6 are positioned onedgei uponthe body portions 8 ofthe lugs on the respective sides of the wall. Inverted til-shapedkeepers ar'e'then placed over the legs 'I I ofthe lugsandextend'upwa'rdly a short distance therefrom. Each of these keepers has atransverse opening 26 adapted to move into alinement with a like openingin the leg ll'and such alinedopenings are adapted to receive a pin orhall 21 so that the form members I5 and It will be accuratelyand rigidlyheld in desired position above the pr'ecast portion of the wall.

The upper portion of the members l5 and [6 are held in desired spacedposition by means of spacers 2 against which the members l5 and [6.

are clamped'by means of a U-shaped" clamp member 28 having wing screws29 at its opposite ends so that bearing angles 30 will apply desiredinwardpressure'to hold the form in position.

A novel feature of my form structure is also to. be found in the mannerof constructing the corner portion of a wall, as illustrated in Fig. 5.In this construction it is to be noted that the outer portion of theform is made up of members i and 36 which are interconnected at rightangles by means of an angle iron 31. This compositestructure is attachedto adjacent members [5 by means of 'complementar-y flanges 38 securedtogether by means of bolts 39. It seems apparent that this assembly maybe readilycompleted or-dismantled whereby construction operationsarefacilitated,

The inner portionof the corner form is con structed-in a manner thatsuch portion is easily removable after the cast cementha's set.Membersl6, like the members I5, are provided with flanges 38. However,the composite corner structure comprising members 35' and'3fi areforeshortened and acute angles 40 are attached thereto so that the endsof the members Hand Thereafter, the ends of the tie Il may be curvedinwardly and filled with cementitious material whereby the'outer surfaceof. the wall isformed into a'continuous plane surface. The filling ofthe indentations 44 is effected before the concrete has completelycuredand hence the filling material adheres to the walls of theindentationsand the outer ends of the tie I! as well, and'there i's'provided" asmooth, continuous surface'on' each side" of the wall that is producedin accordance with the invention. f

The construction and practice of the inven tion 'is believed apparentfrom the foregoing description. By way of summary, it will be as sumedthat the precast portion of a wall, such as a starter wall or thesuperposed beam portion I, has'been cast with transverse grooves '4 atspaced intervals on its upper surface. A pair of lugs l are then placedwith their pilot projections 9' in the ends of each of these grooves andthe tie IT is placed within the grooves I2. A pin, or nail, l8' ispassed through one end of the tie IT and a hook IQ of the bolt 2-0 isengaged with the opposite end of the tie. Thenut 2-! is then tightenedso thatthe faces ID of the lugs 1 are drawn into engagement with theouter faces of the precast portion of the wall.

Form members l5- and i6 may have been .previously clamped together bymeans of clamp members 28 and spacers 2 and such clamping may beeffected after these form members are placedon edge upon the bodyportions 8 of the lugs 11 at the respectivesides of the precast-Wallportion. The keepers 25'may be placed in position either before orafterthe-members I5 and it are located upon the lugs l. In any event,such keepers are retained in place by means of the pins or nails 21passing through these keepers and the legs ll. of the lugs. It is to beunderstood that the nuts 2lmay be, if desired,

35' are in spaced relation. A-filler block 4|is provided witha taperedsurfacev 42 at its inner end and has an opening therethrough so that thebolt 43- may be passed through the flange members 38 and 40 when theinner end of the filler block is substantially coplanar with the innerfaces of the members It and 35. This structure is such that the fillerblock 4| may be loosened so that a given mg or lugs may-be shiftedslightly to perfect alinement.

If the corner construction shown in Fig; 5' is to be used, the foregoingprocedure is followed with the ends o-f'members' l5so located atoppositesideso'f the corner'that the fianges'38on' the members l5 and on thecorner members 35'- and 36 come into mating relation and are securedtogether by thebolts- 39.- The inner corner members 35' and 3 6'likewise are located in abutting relation with'the respective formmembers l6. Filler'blocks A l are positioned in the'gaps'fo'rmed by thejuxtaposed flange members s'fl and- Ml, whereupon the componentparts ofthe-corner assembly are secured together by means of bolts After theform has been filled'with cementitious material and such material hasset, the

form' may be removed and the operation repeated. When the lugs 1 havebeen removed, the-Outer ends of the ties Il may be dfbrmed.

and forced into the depressions 44 left by the pilot ends 9 of the lugs.These depressions are then filled with cement wherebythere is provided acontinuous and smooth wall surface.

t seems apparent that where openings such as doors, windows, etc. are tobe provided, suitable frames may be inserted between the form sides atproper locations andconcrete is cast thereagainst so that suchframesbecome an integral part of the completed wall.

Broadly, the invention comprehends a novel method and apparatus for theconstruction of concretewalls at a minimum of expense and in anexpeditious manner.

What is claimed is:

1. In the method of constructing walls of cementitious material, thesteps of, casting a tions of a wall, said form comprising, side mem-,

- spacer is adapted to form a transverse groove started wall or gradebeam with transverse grooves in theupper surface thereof, securing formmembers above said started wall, locating said members by inserting lugmembers into said grooves, interconnecting said lugs by a tie rod,filling said grooves and form, removing said forms and lugs whileallowing the tie rod to remain, and thereafterfilling the openingsproduced by the lugs at the ends of the grooves. 2. A form for castingsuperposed beam portions of a. wall, said form comprising, side members.

a spacer interposed between said members at their upper edges, means forclamping said members to said spacer whereby the members are held inpredetermined spacedrelation and the spacer is adapted to form atransverse groove in the upper surface of the material cast within thementioned means including a pair of lugs adapted to he fitted into agroove in the upper surface of the previously cast portion, aninterconnecting tie for holding such lugs in engagement with saidprecast portion of the, wall, said lugs being engageable by said sidemembers whereby such members are held in alinement with the precastportion of the wall by said lugs. 3. A form for casting superposed beamporhers, a spacer interposed between said members at their upper edges,means for clamping said members tosaid spacer whereby the members areheld in predetermined spaced relation and the in the material castwithin the form, a tie extending transversely of the side membersproximate the lower edge thereof, lugs engageable with the outersurfaces of said side members, said tie passing through said lugs, andadjustable means engageable with the opposite ends of the tie and theouter ends of the lugs for holding the lugs in engagement with a precastportion of the wall. 4. A lug member for securing a form. upon a precastportion of a wall comprising, a body porform, meansfor holding saidmembers in alinement with a precast portion of the wall, said last

